Murky Waters

CHAPTER ONE

At 7:30, the morning heat was already sweltering in Baton Rouge. Claire Murray fumbled nervously with the knobs of her air conditioner. Being a Houston native, she was accustomed to the heat. Sweat still poured down her spine and beaded on her top lip, threatening to wash away the makeup she had carefully applied.

She was surprised, however, that the rush-hour traffic was equally as bad in Baton Rouge as it had been in Houston. Inching along on I-10, she was relieved that she had given herself plenty of time to get to her new job. Being late was not the first impression she wanted to make.

Maneuvering her Jeep Cherokee into the already crowded parking lot with thirty minutes to spare, she took time to study the exterior of the new office building in which she would be working.

It was four stories high, mostly glass, overlooking the Mississippi River.

This was the home office of Valor Marine. Claire had done her homework on her new employer and was impressed by her findings. Valor was well established in the marine industry. The company specialized in river transportation of petrochemicals. A large percentage of the nation’s gasoline and chemical supplies were transported via barge and towboat. Many gas and oil manufacturers utilized Valor boats and barges to transport their products on the inland waterways throughout the country.

She lit up a cigarette and sipped her coffee. Claire had been a travel agent with the same agency for ten years. Suarez Travel specialized in dedicated corporate accounts. She was accustomed to working on site for many of them. Her willingness to relocate was always a feather in her cap. Finally, her diligence had paid 13

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off, and she was awarded the coveted position of travel manager for Valor Marine.

In addition to it being her first day, Claire had been invited to sit in on the managers’ meeting. This made her especially nervous; she would meet the entire managerial staff at one time. She extinguished her cigarette, took the last sip of her coffee, and took a deep breath to calm herself before making the trek through the intense heat.

Upon entering the building, she was immediately impressed with the décor. The lobby was all brass and glass, just like a cruise ship.

After being greeted by the receptionist, she sat down on one of the stylish leather couches to wait. The glass table in front of her held several marine industry magazines, which Claire only halfheartedly paid attention to, as she stole glances at the people who entered the building.

“Ms. Murray?” Claire looked up to find a woman who appeared to be in her mid-forties peering down at her. She recognized the voice instantly; the woman standing before her looked exactly like she sounded on the phone. She wasn’t as tall as Claire and had salt and pepper-colored hair that looked like someone put a bowl on her head and cut the hair from around it. Claire stood and accepted the hand extended to her. “I’m Ellen Comeaux. We spoke on the phone. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Welcome to Valor.”

Claire liked Ellen immediately. She had a firm handshake, and she looked her directly in the eyes as she spoke. Being a good judge of character, Claire deemed Ellen to be a sincere person. Her relaxed demeanor helped to make Claire feel more at ease.

Claire followed Ellen through a maze of hallways decorated with pictures of towboats and nautical emblems to a room referred to as the galley. Ellen opened a few of the cabinets. “Since most of us spend more time here than at our own homes, we try to make this place as homey as possible. Our galley, or kitchen, as most call it, has everything you need to cook or warm meals. We keep snacks on hand if you are unable to get out for lunch. A lot of us cook gumbo or red beans and rice, and all are welcome to the meal.

Don’t be shy, or you’ll miss out.”

“I’m never shy when it comes to food,” Claire responded politely as she eyed the doughnuts and pastries lying on the table 14

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“I have to warn you about the coffee; we make it strong here, so you may want to cut it with some water,” Ellen said as she filled a cup for Claire.

“I need all the help I can get this morning. A lot of caffeine is just the trick.” Claire took a sip of the hot brew, and her eyes nearly bugged. “On second thought, I think I may add just a little water.”

Alone on the elevator, Ellen tried to help an obviously nervous Claire relax a little. “After the morning meeting, I’ll take you to your new office. That is ...” Ellen paused for effect, “if you survive.” She laughed out loud at the horrified expression on Claire’s face. “Honey, you have nothing to fear but boredom.

Should you be talented enough to sleep with your eyes open, try not to drool on the conference table. It gives me away every time.”

The elevator doors opened to reveal a large conference room that nearly dominated the entire fourth floor. The back wall of the spacious room was made of glass and overlooked the Mississippi River. In the center of the room was a huge conference table surrounded by high-backed leather chairs. Pictures of the Valor vessels hung framed and matted on the two opposing walls.

Happy with the fact that she and Ellen were first to arrive for the meeting, Claire made her way over to the glass. As the early morning sun shone from the eastern sky making the murky Mississippi River shimmer like diamonds, she watched with interest as boats of all types made their way up and down the river and as the turbulent water churned in their wake.

Ellen joined her at the window. “Looks peaceful and serene, doesn’t it? Looks can be deceiving, though. That murky water has claimed many lives, not just within our company, but just about every company that operates on the river.” She paused, wanting to make sure that Claire paid her full attention.

“The Mississippi is known for its strong current. Should a person fall off a barge or boat, the current usually pushes him under the vessel or barge tow. Many have drowned that way. A competitor of ours lost a man last week when he fell overboard and was crushed between two barges. We have to take safety very seriously here.” Ellen looked at Claire, hoping she understood her point.

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“That’s one of our boats making its way up river now. They’ve just finished loading the barges at the refinery and are headed north to discharge the product at another facility. I imagine all this sounds very foreign to you, so I have arranged for one of our managers to take you on a tour tomorrow. We’ll have to get you some steel-toed boots and safety gear today after lunch.”

Claire looked frightened. “I’m not sure I want to go on a tour after the lecture you just gave me.” Looking down at the brown swirling water and hearing of the associated dangers made Claire apprehensive about being close and personal with the river.

Ellen laughed. “My husband works for the local electric company. When he went for his initial job training, they didn’t tell him that the electricity would only give him a little nip. They explained in graphic detail what could happen should he become careless. That is exactly what I’m trying to do for you. I don’t have to worry, though; the person taking you on the tour takes safety very seriously.

“The river can get very high. The huge tankers that are going to the oil docks are sometimes level with this window. I can look out my window and see the bridge of the ship at eye level. When the water is high like that, it makes it very difficult to manage the vessels making their way through here due to the strong current,”

Ellen said, turning to look at Claire.

“Why do the boats still try to navigate the river in such treacherous conditions?” Claire asked as she watched the Valor boat push its three-barge tow against the current.

“The boats and ships never stop. The Coast Guard will shut down the river at times when conditions are bad enough to warrant it. If a hurricane threatens the mouth of the Mississippi or if there has been some sort of accident, the river is closed to boat traffic.

Otherwise, the boats stay in motion. Millions of dollars of gasoline and chemicals are shipped up and down this river daily, and if a boat is stopped or delayed, money is lost. The only exceptions are heavy fog or lock delays.

“Captains in this industry are specially trained to handle all sorts of emergencies. They encounter hazardous situations on a daily basis out there, more than anyone really knows. They have rescued stranded boaters and recovered people whose watercrafts have capsized. Unfortunately, the public only realizes they are out there 16

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when something bad happens. I’m sure the captain of the vessel you will board tomorrow will tell you all sorts of stories.”

Claire grinned. “You mean I’ll be able to take a ride on one of the boats? Can I drive?”

Ellen laughed at Claire’s enthusiasm as she watched her co-workers enter the room. “It looks like everyone is filing in. Let’s go get a good seat. I don’t want you to miss anything.” Ellen chuckled at her own sarcasm.

The last person to enter the room was a distinguished-looking man who Claire figured to be in his mid-sixties. “Father figure”

popped into her mind as she observed him. It was obvious he was highly respected by the people gathered in the room, and there was warmth in his eyes when he regarded his employees, like a proud parent.

He moved to the head of the table and addressed the group.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have someone new with us today.

Please allow me to first introduce myself. I am Cameron Hughes, the general manager of Valor Marine. It pleases me to welcome you aboard, Miss Murray.”

Claire nodded and thanked him. “Claire Murray will be the new travel manager for Suarez Travel. She will replace Rhonda Hudson, who we all know is resigning to begin a family. Claire comes to us highly recommended, and I am happy to have her.

“Starting with Scott here on my right, I would like each manager to introduce him or herself and give a quick synopsis of what you do here. I hope that each one of you will take the time to make Claire feel welcome and help her with anything she needs.”

Claire paid close attention to each name, hoping to at least commit a few to memory. One name stood out in her mind ––

Tristan Delacroix. Claire noticed her the minute she walked into the room. Tall and immaculately dressed with long brown hair beautifully cascading down her shoulders, Tristan exuded a confidence that Claire had always found irresistible in women.

Claire smiled when she detected a slight Cajun accent as she listened to Tristan’s low smooth voice.

“My name is Tristan Delacroix. I am the manager of the Valor personnel department. My co-workers and I crew our vessels with the appropriate staff trained in managing whatever product their vessel is assigned to carry. Our main task is getting the crew by 17

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plane or rental car to wherever the boat is they are assigned to at the time of crew change.”

Claire listened intently. Feeling a twinge of excitement, she realized that she would be working very closely with the lovely woman who sat across from her. She was intrigued to say the least.

Looking more like an attorney with her manicured nails and business suit, Tristan did not seem like the type to be working for a towboat company.

Occasionally, Tristan would run her fingers through her long dark hair, and it would fall in waves around her tanned face. Her brown eyes were big and expressive underneath a perfectly sculpted pair of eyebrows. Her makeup only enhanced her beautiful features. For the remainder of the meeting, Claire took every opportunity to study the intriguing woman. Only when she found Tristan’s dark eyes on her did she make a point not to stare.

At the conclusion of the meeting, each member of the staff came by to greet Claire personally. When Tristan approached, Claire felt her pulse quicken. She was actually nervous about shaking the beautiful woman’s hand.

“Miss Murray, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Tristan stared into her eyes as she spoke and took her hand. The simple gesture of a handshake sent chills up Claire’s spine. “You have your work cut out for you. I have not been pleased with the performance of Suarez Travel. I hope you will be an improvement, or your employment here may not be very enjoyable.”

With that, Tristan excused herself and left the room, leaving a stunned and speechless Claire in her wake. Attempting to keep her cool and regain her composure, Claire stared at the door Tristan had just passed through. “That is the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and she’s a complete asshole,” Claire mumbled under her breath.

Ellen patted her on the back supportively. “Claire, we have to chat. I feel the need to explain what just happened. How about you and I take a ride down to the boot store and get some acceptable footwear for your tour tomorrow?”

Ellen led her down to the employee parking area and hissed when her hand came in contact with the hot door handle of her car. After settling inside, she avoided touching the steering wheel and 18

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quickly adjusted the air conditioner while glancing over at Claire with a wicked gleam in her eye. “Do you smoke?”

“Yes, I do,” Claire replied with a grin. “Great! Because if you didn’t, I was going to suggest you start. This business will make you do something unhealthy, and since we can’t drink on the job, I decided to smoke. Good Lord knows I don’t need to eat any more than I do.” Ellen laughed as she lit her cigarette, exhaling the smoke. A look of pure pleasure washed over her face.

“Ellen, can I ask you something?” Ellen nodded at Claire, keeping her eyes on the road. “May I be very frank?”

This time, Ellen glanced from the road to her passenger. “Of course.”

Claire lit her own cigarette and blew out the smoke slowly, debating how she should pose the question. “Why on earth does Tristan act like she has a hot pepper up her ass? I’ve only just met her, and she acted as though she wanted to take my head off. Is she always like that, or did she wake up on the wrong side of bed this morning?”

Ellen burst out laughing at Claire’s candor. “I am truly sorry for her behavior, Claire. Knowing Tristan, once she gets to know you, she will apologize herself. She and Rhonda have gone head to head more than once. Rhonda has never really been dedicated to our account. She sees her department as simply a travel agency within our office.

“The whole reason we have a travel department in house is so you can become intimately involved with what we do. The more you know about us, the more you can do for us. Rhonda has gotten even worse since she became pregnant. Her head has simply not been in the game.

“Tristan’s department is responsible for crewing all our vessels.

Unless business is slow or they have mechanical failure, our boats are in constant movement. Therefore, in order to swap out crews, they have to hit a moving target. That’s where you come in. Valor spends a large amount of money each year to make this happen.

We need someone who can work closely with her and keep the travel costs down.

“Tristan is really a great person to work with. She is very dedicated and will work all the hours it takes to assure the job is done. As a manager, she is very well respected because she stands 19

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behind her people. She does not expect perfection, but she does expect those who work with her to strive for it. You will work more closely with her than you do your own people.”

Claire didn’t know whether to be excited about the prospect of working with Miss Pepper Ass or not. However, she did enjoy her shopping trip with Ellen and lunch at a Mexican restaurant not far from the office. While eating chips and salsa, Ellen decided to warn Claire that Tristan was an out and out lesbian. After the short choking spell, Claire recovered nicely.

“Don’t get me wrong, Claire, I have no problem with that.

Whatever floats your boat, but I thought I would give you a little heads up since you’ll be working so closely with her.”

Claire debated telling Ellen right then that she and Tristan had that in common, but at the last minute, she chickened out. She felt deep inside that she had started her new life out with a big fat lie hanging over her head. “It’s no big deal to me, Ellen. I have worked with gays and lesbians before.” She tried to look Ellen in the eye as she chatted on about it nonchalantly.

Two enchiladas and a half a pack of cigarettes later, they made their way back to Valor. Ellen took Claire to the third floor to her new office. They entered a large room with waist-high cubicles dividing it down the middle. The rear of the room was made up of three glass offices, affording its occupants a full view of the room that housed the cubicles, as well as the adjoining offices.

There were four people occupying the cubicles. Two were on the phone; the other two were diligently working at their computers.

Each one glanced up at Claire and Ellen as they made their way to the glass offices. The largest of the three belonged to Tristan. The one next to hers was to be Claire’s, and the one on the other side of Claire’s housed the travel agents.

“As you can see, you will be right next to your staff and of course Tristan, who is probably still in meetings. This way, you will be accessible to your people and Tristan’s staff, as well.”

As Ellen chatted with one of the coordinators, Claire took a moment to peek into Tristan’s office. Obviously, Tristan appreciated order; not one thing could be found out of place. The oak bookshelves were neatly kept and adorned with breathtaking undersea photos. A fish tank occupied one corner, and a replica of 20

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a towboat, complete with functioning running lights, that sat in a glass case, took up the remaining free wall of the office.

Claire excused herself from Ellen for a moment and went to visit the travel agents. It was a relief to see Mike and Lauren’s familiar faces; she had worked with them before. Both greeted her with warm hugs.

“We’ve been looking forward to working with you again,”

Lauren said with a smile. “I’m sorry, but Rhonda decided to let Friday be her last day. I think she was avoiding Tristan. The two of them have been at each other’s throats. She did leave you a detailed report of her daily duties. I don’t think you will have any problems picking up where she left off.”

“Tristan did tell me this morning that she was disappointed in Rhonda’s performance and basically tore me a new one.” Claire winced as she remembered the encounter. “I hope you both will work with me to improve our working relations. I’d like to meet with you later if time permits. This is something I want to tackle as soon as possible.”

After Ellen helped familiarize Claire with her new office, she left her alone to get started. Claire made it a point first to look over Rhonda’s filing system. Satisfied that everything was in order, she began customizing her computer to fit her work habits.

Glancing up from her project, she watched as Tristan entered the work area and spoke with the crew coordinators before heading to her office. Tristan acknowledged Claire with a slight nod and went on seemingly oblivious to her presence. Claire had hoped that they could start off on better footing, but Tristan made it obvious that she wasn’t interested in chatting.

Claire silently thanked whomever designed their offices to include glass walls. She stole a few glances as Tristan entered her office and took off her jacket. She hung it neatly over the back of her chair as she checked her voice mail. Claire noticed that the silk shirt fit Tristan as though it was tailored just for her, displaying her well-developed figure. She grinned, thinking this would be a very pleasant distraction.

An hour had passed when Claire heard a soft knock on her already open door. Looking up, Claire noticed Tristan standing in the doorway. Claire silently appreciated her manners and invited 21

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her in. Tristan remained standing until Claire offered her a seat in one of the high-backed leather chairs.

“I only need a moment of your time. I’ve been designated as your tour guide for tomorrow.” If Tristan took any pleasure in this task, her face did not show it. “Ellen tells me you already have your boots. I will have the rest of your safety gear by tomorrow morning. You’ll need to wear a pair of jeans, and I brought you this.” She handed Claire a denim shirt with the Valor logo on the breast pocket. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to, but I thought it would make a nice welcome-aboard gift,” Tristan went on nervously, hoping to avoid any awkward silence. “You will need to be here at 7 a.m. I would like to start out at our fleet; one of our boats is there having some repairs done.”

Claire put on her best smile and tried to take advantage of the opportunity. “I really do want things to work out here. I’m hoping while we’re out tomorrow that you and I can discuss candidly the issues you had with Rhonda. I don’t want to make the same mistakes. Valor is our customer, and it is in our best interest to make sure you get the work you expect.”

Tristan looked at her thoughtfully before she spoke. “I appreciate that, Claire. We have a lot to talk about.” Saying nothing more, she politely excused herself and returned to her office. Claire sat back and expelled the breath that she had been holding the moment she stopped speaking. She was unsure of what the response would be after her little speech. As far as she could tell, she had scored a point for the travel team.

For the remainder of the afternoon, Claire met with Mike and Lauren. She nearly filled an entire notebook with the information she gleaned from the two agents. For the most part, they felt that Rhonda had brought the problems on herself. She was not very dedicated, and her attendance was poor, as well as her attitude.

Claire felt confident that she could improve on those problems quickly.

She would do whatever was within her power to satisfy Tristan.

Not merely because her job depended on it, but there was something within her that wanted to please the dark-haired woman whom she could not shake from her thoughts. It had been a long time since she had met anyone who excited her this way. Had 22

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anyone else treated her the way Tristan had the first day, Claire may have very well been on her way back to Houston.

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